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SPORTS Saturday 6 april 2019

Duke’s Williamson wins AP men’s college player of the year

By AARON BEARD of postgame interviews,
AP Basketball Writer even routinely having walk-
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Just on Mike Buckmire join him
about everything Zion Wil- as a wingman as though
liamson did at Duke creat- bringing his teammate into
ed a highlight or headline his unique orbit.
in a spectacle of a season. “It’s been remarkable what
The soaring dunks. he’s done,” said North Car-
The open-court moves olina coach Roy Williams,
more nimble than his who recruited Williamson.
6-foot-7, 285-pound frame “There hasn’t been many
should allow. guys like that to come
Even the freak occurrence down the road. So the at-
of one of his feet tearing tention he’s gotten, I think
through its shoe in a fall to he’d deserved. ... He’s driv-
the court. en a different ship.”
Handling all that attention That February shoe blow-
became maybe the big- out illustrated just how dif-
gest lesson for the fresh- ferent.
man, who quickly became Williamson missed nearly six
the face of college basket- full games after injuring his
ball and the game’s big- knee in the fall, which had
gest star in years — then fit- his left foot sticking through
tingly finished as The Associ- Duke freshman Zion Williamson sits behind the Oscar Robertson Trophy with National Collegiate the side of his Paul George
ated Press men’s player of Basketball Hall of Fame member Oscar Robertson at a news conference where Williamson was signature shoe from Nike.
the year. awarded the U.S. Basketball Writers Association College Player of the Year award at the Final Four The bizarre image wound-
“I was comfortable with it NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Minneapolis. ed Nike’s day-after stock
because you don’t really Associated Press price and had some argu-
have a choice,” Williamson RJ Barrett earned two votes mates) don’t let nobody ranked among the Atlantic ing that he shouldn’t return
said in an interview with the as a fellow AP first-team All- tell you this season was a Coast Conference leaders to protect his pro stock.
AP earlier this week. “I think American, while Virginia’s disappointment, because in steals (2.12) and blocks “Cars will be driving by
if you try to force it out, De’Andre Hunter, Michigan people have got to under- (1.79). Williamson’s play (on campus) and I mean,
then it’s going to bother State’s Cassius Winston and stand it’s March Madness,” was marked by breathtak- they’ll just stop,” Williamson
you. ... My mom just told Murray State’s Ja Morant he said, adding: “I mean, ing athleticism to go by, said with a chuckle. “In the
me to look at it as a lot of each earned one vote. winning the championship through and over anyone middle of the road. And
kids would wish to be in my Williamson had hoped to is not a cakewalk.” to get the ball (look at his people will jump out of the
position, so if it does bother be in Minneapolis prepar- In a likely one-year col- personal-favorite 360-de- car and get pictures. I’m
me, I just think about it like ing for Saturday’s national lege stop for a possible gree dunk against Clemson looking at my watch, I have
that.” semifinals like Hunter and top overall NBA draft pick, or his rapid-closeout swat two minutes to get to class
Williamson claimed 59 of 64 Winston. But the Blue Dev- the 18-year-old William- of Hunter’s shot at Virginia and my class is a five-min-
votes from AP Top 25 voters ils fell to Winston’s Spartans son averaged 22.6 points for proof). ute walk. ... I’ll look at them
before the NCAA Tourna- in the Elite Eight as the top and 8.9 rebounds while There was the charisma, and they’ll be so high, I’m
ment in results released Fri- overall seed. ranking second nationally too. He projected a self-as- like, ‘Yeah, I got you, I’ll
day. Freshman teammate “I was just telling (team- by shooting 68%. He also sured ease amid the crush take the picture.”q

Boogity! Boogity! Boogity! Waltrip set to retire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Darrell Waltrip cided to call 2019 my last year in the FOX
is set to take the checkered flag on his Sports booth,” Waltrip said Thursday.
broadcasting career. “I have been blessed to work with the best
The Fox Sports analyst will retire at the end team in the sport for the past 19 years, but
of the network’s portion of the NASCAR I’m 72 and have been racing in some form
schedule following the June 23 race at So- for more than 50 years. I’m still healthy,
noma Raceway in California. happy and now a granddad, so it’s time
It will likely be the last time the Kentucky na- to spend more time at home with my fam-
tive will utter his “Boogity! Boogity! Boogity! ily, although I will greatly miss my FOX fam-
Let’s go racing, boys!” call to open a race. ily.”
Waltrip is one of NASCAR’s storied char- “For nearly five decades, few people have
acters, one of the first to build a brand been as synonymous with NASCAR as
around his supersized personality, and he Darrell Waltrip,” NASCAR President Steve
parlayed it into a lifetime as one of the Phelps said.
sport’s strongest ambassadors. “A Hall of Famer on the track and in the
He began his Fox Sports career with the booth, Waltrip brought quick wit, tireless
2001 Daytona 500, and the Hall of Fame passion and a wealth of stock car racing
driver had hinted on social media this knowledge to millions of NASCAR fans on
would be the final season of his career. FOX for 19 seasons.
Now 72, Waltrip said it was finally time to We are grateful for Waltrip’s many con-
In this Feb. 2, 2015, file photo, former NASCAR race car driver go. tributions to the sport over the past 47
Darrell Waltrip delivers the keynote address during the National “My family and I have been talking this years, both as a champion driver and
Prayer Breakfast in Washington. over the past several months, and I’ve de- broadcaster.”q
Associated Press